2016 Targets Part 2 -TEs

By John Bush

Introduction

If you are moving into the last drafts of the season, I suggest a review of 2016 target distribution by both Position and Team. This article plus the next 3 articles will cover this area for you.

I published this RB Targets this morning, TEs Targets Wednesday Afternoon NOW, WR Targets Thursday Morning and Team Targets Thursday Afternoon. Note I also will have on Friday an article on the relationship of 2017 ADP and 2016 Targets! This material will set up your last minute drafts especially in PPR leagues! In summary, 5 articles in 2.5 days!

2016 Targets by Week for TEs

The first 3 figures are a historical record of the 2016 TE target landscape. I color-coded the high targets (green), mid targets (yellow) and low/none (red/clear).

Focus Areas

Pattern of the Targets-

Consistency

Time of Season Early vs. Mid vs. Late

Number of High Target Weeks vs. other weeks

I suggest you draw conclusions from these patterns. Add your conclusions to your drafting plans. Dig deeper into the 2017 changes that can be expected. What TEs are going to increase in targets or go down in targets? Add to your draft plans!

Note the nice slate of TEs that enjoy good targets in 2016. I have been using Rudolph and Ertz for my later TE picks! They were 1st and 4th last year in Targets per Game!

Figure 1 to 3. 2016 TE Targets by Games Played and Targets Received

TE Target 2016 Seasonal Landscapes

The data presented in Figures 4 to 7 can be used to get a view of each player’s 2016 season by targets. The player list is sorted by TGTs/G (Color Coded). Rudolph was the best overall TE with 8.3 T/G followed closely by Olsen at 8.1.

Use the Seasonal Segmentation data to view the work levels of the RBs. Note that Rudolph was hot in Late Season with 10.7 T/G smoking hot and for the playoffs! The Max Segment metric points quickly to the hot segment for each player in 2016. Olsen was strong Early at 10.0 T/G but never hit those levels again. My other target TE was Ertz who had 10 T/G late season! He is a solid late round TE pick-up.

Use this data to focus on TEs draft targets especially in PPR. Some TEs that seemed to do well late in the 2016 season were C Clay, and CJ Fiedorowicz, Maybe very late TE bargains?

Figures 4 to 7 TEs Total Targets, Targets Per Game, Early, Mid and Late Targets, Best Seasonal Segment by Targets